i thought it was just my prob,so tried playing SH5 an servers offline there to {i doubt anyones noticed that though it's a place devoid of life up there} should of tried Here before i uninstalled 3. in the words of my role model D'OH !

UBI important to resolve this problem, we are many sea commanders we have been playing silent hunter 3-twelve, please reopen the UBI server. this work of art that is the Silent-Hunter 3 has to follow ....

how the system works in multiplayer I do not know .
As far as I know it has something to do with updates .
there are many sh-3 games for sale in stores, closed mutiplayer closed can not be .
I have read that the server sh-5 no longer works .

For a real pity since 2005 UBI server for Silent Hunter 3 has made so many happy commanders and friends, a shame to lose this server, but will live with tunngle this work of art that is the Silent-Hunter 3 forever , for life ....

buy my own server and restart multiplayer Sh-3 .
I could start my own server than I did now. there is nothing wrong with silenthunter-3
silenthunter-3 is a Gold mine . like GWX 3.0 gold .
I have the address of the server ubisoft, I'll contact these people on the TEL and ask for suggestions open sh-3 multiplayer again .
I can hardly believe that SH-3 server is closed forever .